Martyrdom of Conon

Martyrdom of Saint Conon.

Once more—oh, the impious judgment! After the holy martyrs of Christ Papias, Diodorus, and Claudian had been perfected, the governor came to the city of Magydos and, taking his seat in the suburb of Zeus, tried there too to summon the inhabitants through the herald. But when they heard the herald's proclamation, they withdrew from the city all the more eagerly, leaving everything behind, so that the city was left empty with the foul magistrate and his staff. He sent singulares and some others round the city to search everywhere, house by house, in case they might find anyone. Those who had been sent came back and reported that they had found no one in the city or in the fields.

Then a man named Naodorus, also called Apelles, the father of the city, and another man, a temple-warden, himself raving with the impiety of the idols, asked the governor to give them help, so as to search the places they suspected. And an assistant named Origen, going out together with the aforesaid Naodorus, with the irenarch's staff and some others, found the blessed Conon in a place called Carmena, watering an imperial garden. Approaching the thrice-blessed martyr, they greeted him, saying, “Greetings, Conon.” And the servant of Christ, the guileless soul, innocent in mind, said to them, “Greetings to you too, children.” Origen said to him, “Father, the governor is summoning you.” Saint Conon said, “And what need has the governor of me, a stranger, and above all a Christian? If he is looking for those like himself, let him look for them, and not for a man who works the land and toils day by day.” The lawless Naodorus, put out by holy Conon's reply, ordered him to be tied to his horse and dragged along like that. And the holy martyr said nothing against those who dragged him, but followed the lawless men meekly and gently.

Naodorus said to Origen, “Our hunt has not been in vain; the man we were looking for has been found. He can make the defense for all the Christians.” And when they had brought him to the governor, Naodorus said, “By the favor of the gods and the command of the emperor and your good fortune, our excellent ruler, the man we were looking for has been found—most dear to all the gods, obedient to the laws and to the great emperor.” And holy Conon said with a loud voice, “You do not speak as it is; for I obey the great King, Christ.” Origen said, “Excellency among governors, though we went all round the city we could find no one except this old man in a garden.”

The governor said to the martyr, “Tell me, man, where are you from, or of what family are you, or what is your name?” Conon said, “I am of the city of Nazareth in Galilee, and I am related to Christ, whom I serve from my forefathers and whom I have known as God over all.” The tyrant said to him, “If you have known Christ, know our gods as well. Be persuaded by me, and, by all the gods, you will gain for yourself no ordinary honor, but also noble trust and glory in abundance. I do not say to you, ‘Sacrifice,’ nor do anything of that sort; only take a little incense and wine and a branch and say, ‘Most high Zeus, save this people.’ Say this, and I lay nothing else on you. Listen to me as I appeal to you, and flee this most indecent religion. Why do you go astray, calling a man God—and one who died a violent death at that? So I learned accurately from the Jews: what his descent was, what he displayed to their nation, and how he died, crucified. For they produced his records and read them to me. Stop, then, such foolishness, and be with us and enjoy yourself.”

The blessed martyr groaned and looked up to heaven, and having prayed to the God of all he said to the tyrant, “Most impious of all men! Would that you too shared in such foolishness, and were not destroying souls that ought not to perish, giving heed to lifeless stones and the works of human hands, which neither see nor hear. How did you dare so to blaspheme the God over all, in whose hands is your breath? But may it be granted to me and to all who call upon his name always to hymn and glorify him without denying him, the Savior and God of all.” The impious tyrant, maddened by what the holy martyr had said, said to him, “You do not obey me; the tortures will persuade you to fear. And if you despise even the tortures, I will throw you to a most savage lion and so destroy you, or give you as food to the beasts of the deep, or hang you on a cross and have you put to death, or throw you into a cauldron heated with a fierce fire and melt away your flesh, unless you sacrifice to the unconquered and eternal gods.” The blessed martyr said to the impious tyrant, “You disgrace yourself, governor. Making promises only in words, thinking to frighten me, do you suppose you will persuade me? You will not persuade me—may it never be! But see that the Judge does not hand you over to Tartarus without reprieve, or to the unquenchable fire forever, where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. For the tortures you promise me cannot harm me; for I have God who strengthens me.” The tyrant said to him, “Even if the tortures have no power against you, I will devise still more bitter tortures against you.”

After deliberating with his advisers, he ordered nails to be driven through the joints; and having nailed the martyr's feet, he made him run ahead of his chariot. Driven on with two whips, he answered nothing, but sang a psalm, saying, “I waited patiently for the Lord, and he attended to me and heard my prayer.” When he came near the market-place, the blessed Conon, fainting from exhaustion, fell on his knees, and looking up to his own Master he prayed, saying, “Lord Jesus Christ, receive my soul, rescue me from the bloodthirsty dogs, and give me rest with all your righteous ones who have done your will. Yes, my God, King of the ages.” And having prayed this and sealed himself with the sign, he at once gave up his spirit. The lawless governor, greatly astonished at the martyr's victory, set out on his own journey. And the blessed Conon was offered as an offering to God, the King of the ages; to whom be the glory to the ages of ages. Amen. The contest of the holy martyr Conon the gardener. He lived in the times of the emperor Decius, from Nazareth in Galilee. Then he came to the city of Magydos in Pamphylia and lived in a place called Carmena, tending a garden, planting and watering vegetables, from which he got his food. He was simple in character: when those who were about to arrest him came up and greeted him as if in play, he greeted them in return; and when they told him why they had come—that the governor Publius was summoning him—he answered, “What need has he of me, especially since I am a Christian? Let him summon those of his own mind.” He was bound and brought to the governor, and when urged by him to sacrifice to the idols, he groaned deeply, reviled the tyrant, and affirmed that he would remain in his confession of Christ. His feet were nailed with iron nails and he was forced to run in front of the chariot; fainting, he sank to his knees, prayed, and gave up his spirit to the Lord.